A Lonely Life. By the Author of " Wise as
a Serpent." (Houlaton.) —This is a tale the interest of which the critic will not injure by reveal- ing the plot, for this, indeed, the author does not attempt to involve in any mystery. Harold Seton, the hero, does not know who he is. Is he,. as he has always been called, the son of Colonel Seton? or, as he has reason to suspect from a study of his father's papers, has he been changed at nurse? Then comes the next question. Is he the rightful owner of the Seton property, or does it belong to his cousin Ralph ? The two take counsel together, and agree that, failing to find a certain witness, who does not turn up, the mystery is insoluble. So they agree upon a compromise. Harold is to keep the property for life, but he will not marry. He takes orders ; accepts the incumbency of a neglected manu- facturing town, and, of course, falls in love. This is told with some power, and the reader will follow the story with interest, if not with much pleasure. The character of Agnes Battersby, a good girl, but fast,. who is changed into something really fine and noble by the accident that cripples her for life, is the best part of the story. But one's taste and
feeling rebel against the compromise. Such things have, we know, been done in real life ; but are they not, in the broad sense of the word, immoral? The law holds prohibitions of marriage, made, for instance, by a will, as against public morality, and is quite right in doing so. Would it not have been better, if there was to be a compromise, to divide the money, or even for Harold to give it np? He might have 'earned his own living, and married and been happy, like other men.
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